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Marine Headquarters building.
"Sengoku, has G-18 not returned yet? According to the schedule, G-18 should have been back ten days ago. Could something have gone wrong?" Zephyr asked anxiously, having inquired daily for the past few days.
"No," Sengoku frowned and shook his head. "Transponder Snail contact is also impossible."
"Is that so?" Zephyr grew heavier with worry. Many Marine ships mysteriously disappeared from the sea every year. Perhaps they were destroyed by pirates, or perished in a maritime disaster. A suddenly enraged Sea King could easily sink a warship. A missing Marine ship was considered sunk by Marine Headquarters. Naturally, all crew members were presumed lost.
"Law, has he encountered danger? Law's strength shouldn't allow him to die so easily, should it?" Zephyr was burning with anxiety, yet he could do nothing. He had no idea where the Marine ship was before it went missing, making rescue impossible. The entire Marine force might struggle to find a missing Marine ship; the sea was simply too vast.
"Sigh." Sengoku wasn't concerned about the vanished Marine ship. Many Marine ships went missing every day; one ordinary Marine ship wouldn't command such attention from him as Fleet Admiral. His current worry was a major issue concerning the stability of the sea.
"The organization of the Seven Warlords of the Sea... I'm powerless to prevent its establishment. The World Government has already decided." Fleet Admiral Sengoku disagreed with forming the Seven Warlords of the Sea; most Marines disagreed. But forming the Seven Warlords of the Sea was the World Government's decision, and the Seven Warlords' partners weren't the Marines, but the World Government.
"Since it cannot be changed, it must be perfected. Only then can the Seven Warlords of the Sea be effective. But, it's been over two years, and the Seven Warlords of the Sea haven't been fully assembled yet. The entire Grand Line is waiting to see us become a laughingstock." Sengoku rubbed his temples fiercely.
"Crocodile, Gecko Moria, and Jinbe have all agreed to become Warlords of the Sea. Adding Doflamingo, Dracule Mihawk, and Bartholomew Kuma from before, there are already six members. Unfortunately, one more is needed. Has Pirate Empress Boa Hancock still not agreed?" The members of the Seven Warlords of the Sea were chosen after careful selection. They had to meet multiple conditions to qualify as Warlords of the Sea, making it a very difficult process.
"Pirate Empress Boa Hancock has not yet agreed."
"Troublesome," Sengoku sighed in frustration: "Even an elite Vice Admiral personally went, and still couldn't get Pirate Empress Boa Hancock to become a Warlords of the Sea? It seems there's really no other way. Must we choose someone else?"
"Report! Rear Admiral, commander of G-18, is here to report."
"G-18?" Zephyr excitedly stood up: "Quickly let him in! They've finally returned!"
"Report!" The Rear Admiral, travel-worn and even quite disheveled, reported on his mission. Faced with countless questions from Zephyr and Sengoku, the Rear Admiral dared not conceal anything. Although he didn't know the exact details of what happened in Amazon Lily, he had a general understanding. He explained everything.
"Law's contribution?" Zephyr was astonished: "You encountered such danger, and Law actually turned the tide? Is that true?" Although he highly valued Law, the opponent was a notorious great pirate. Zephyr still doubted whether Law possessed such capabilities.
"Report! Pirate Empress Boa Hancock has sent word that she is willing to agree to become a Warlord of the Sea."
"Really?" This time, it was Sengoku who was excited. In his excitement, he paced back and forth in the room: "Excellent! The Seven Warlords of the Sea are finally fully established! It's time for the Seven Warlords of the Sea to play their role. The three-way balance of power on the Grand Line will now emerge, ensuring the stability of the sea, right?"
After his excitement, Sengoku was deeply puzzled: "Why did Pirate Empress Boa Hancock suddenly agree? Before, she disdained all the benefits offered, all the sincerity. Why did she suddenly agree now?" Sengoku was baffled. He didn't believe Pirate Empress Boa Hancock had suddenly changed her mind. All the efforts made before had been in vain.
"Could it be?" Looking at the Rear Admiral, who had not yet left, Sengoku's eyes lit up. He suddenly thought of something, and the more he thought, the more certain he became: "Is it the handiwork of that new recruit Trafalgar Law?" A new recruit, even Smoker, who was first in the recruit camp, wouldn't be remembered by the Fleet Admiral. But Law had been remembered by Fleet Admiral Sengoku long ago, having performed a great service by modifying firearms.
"Perhaps it is so?" Sengoku smiled. Has that new recruit fully matured? Has he completed a mission that even an elite Vice Admiral couldn't accomplish?
"Heh heh, Sengoku, this credit should be given to Law, right? Making Pirate Empress Boa Hancock agree to become a Warlord of the Sea is no small feat. It's at least a First Class Merit, right?" Zephyr said with a smile. Sengoku found his old friend's demand for credit amusing: "Zephyr, this is the first time you've ever asked for credit on behalf of a student. Do you truly value Law that much?"
"Of course."
"Then this old man looks forward to his graduation ceremony performance. He is so outstanding; he should apply for graduation soon, right?" Sengoku also wanted to see this legendary new recruit: "As for the merit, it is indeed a First Class Merit. Record it for him. It seems he already has two First Class Merits. With such merits, he'll be a General-ranked officer upon graduation, right? In my memory, the most outstanding recruit was only awarded Rear Admiral upon graduation. If Law continues to perform like this, he might create a miracle."
"He was born to create miracles."
"Alright?"
"Sengoku, or perhaps we can give Law a tangible reward now. It seems there are many famous swords in the World Government's armory. There must be many of the 21 Great Grade Swords, right? Perhaps even one of the 12 Supreme Grade Swords. This is up to you."
"World Government armory? One of the 12 Supreme Grade Swords? Zephyr, you're being too greedy! Even for me, as Fleet Admiral, that's difficult, isn't it? But I'll try. It will probably be hard to succeed in a short time."
"Is there anything you can't do, Sengoku?"